Helen Victoria Burke Fox, 97, of North Vernon passed on Friday November 4, 2022, at Four Seasons Healthcare Center.
A mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 11:00 AM at St. Mary’s Catholic Church on Wednesday, November 9, 2022. Rev. Jerry Byrd will officiate. Visitation will be from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM on Tuesday with a Rosary Service at 3:30 PM, and a Psi Iota Xi Service immediately following at Sawyer – Pickett Funeral & Cremation Service.
Born in Lexington, KY on August 25, 1925, Helen was the daughter of Louis J. and Julia Fister Burke.
Helen lived and worked on the farm her folks owned in Lexington, KY. She was the fourth of five children: Dorothy Burke, Gertrude Jaggie, Louis Burke, and William Burke.St. Paul’s Catholic School in Lexington was where she attended grade school. Her high school years were spent at Lafayette High School. During her summers Helen worked in Wisconsin at a Jewish girl’s camp. She graduated from the University of Kentucky majoring in Biology and Physical Education,
Helen taught Physical Education and Biology at North Vernon High School for two years where she was the class sponsor for the Class of 1949. She worked closely with the juniors and seniors with plays, dances, the yearbook, and the prom.
For many years Helen substitute taught in the elementary grades at St. Mary’s School and many Jennings County Schools where she will be remembered for making plaster molds for the students to paint and other crafts.
Mrs. Vera Miller (Perry), North Vernon High School Latin Teacher, introduced Helen to Charles E. Fox Sr. on September 19, 1947, at the North Vernon and Seymour High School football game. Helen and Charles married on October 29, 1949.
Helen is survived by her four children, Linda (Patrick) Dickerson, and Charles Edward Fox Jr., of North Vernon, Dorothy (Daniel) Kirkling of Nashville, IN and Elizabeth (Mark) Wilhelm of Plainfield, IN; grandchildren, Julia Cutsinger, Alexander Dickerson, Matthew Wilhelm, Andrew Wilhelm, Stephanie Hughes, Danielle Flora, Jamie Brush, and Nick Kirkling; nine great-grandchildren and five great-great grandchildren.
Helen was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and the Daughters of Isabella. She served as a leader on the funeral dinner committee at the church.
Helen was a 75-year member of the North Vernon Chapter Alpha Omega of Psi Iota Xi. This sorority was a love to her where over the years she volunteered in the Thrift Shop, Bunny Breakfast, Anniversary Dinners, Christmas Cheeseball project, and more. Helen was privileged with the honor of being voted the National Psi Ote of the year in 1997.
Helen had the honor of serving as president of St. Vincent-Jennings Hospital Guild during the lifetime of the Guild. The Hospital Guild looked to Helen for wise and inspirational leadership. She had the ability to guide the organization with strength and purpose, and to preserve the existing values of the St. Vincent-Jennings Hospital Guild.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents; husband; four brothers and sisters; granddaughter Abigail Jane Carson.
Memorials may be made to St. Mary’s School through the funeral home.
Friends and family are invited to light a candle or leave a message of condolence in Helen’s memory at www.sawyerfuneralservice.com
